Prose Research Articles

‘Don’t panic, don’t panic’: an analysis of a purported pro-eating disorder website/online content moral panic and legal and policy responses

ABSTRACT It has been argued that newspaper responses to pro-eating disorder websites, within the United Kingdom (UK), constitute a moral panic. It is feared that moral panics may spur rash legal/policy responses. My analysis indicates that the consideration of pro-eating disorder websites by British newspaper journalists and others does not constitute a moral panic. I argue that the misuse of the moral panic concept exemplifies the dominance of emotivism within contemporary culture and may trivialise potential online harms and serve as an apologia for surveillance/digital capitalism. I contend that pro-eating disorder websites are potentially harmful and assess legal and policy responses, such as the Online Safety Act 2023 and the advancement of the digital commons. I also contend that the increase in the number of people suffering with eating disorders within the UK should be addressed by devoting more resources for research into, and the prevention and treatment of, eating disorders.

“Nothing Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels”

There has always been something compelling about extreme bodies. Kate Moss exemplifies “the waif,” a body type both frightening and appealing. She is one of the most common celebrities discussed on pro-anorexia (or, pro-ana) websites. To explore the connection between Moss’s body and pro-ana participation, this article examines the potential for an extraordinary body to solidify the aims of an extremist group and to draw in new members. Her unusually slender form affirms this pro-starvation cluster by physically representing the emotional distress that lies at its core. There is no conclusive evidence that Moss suffers from an eating disorder, and she has been open about discouraging people from starving themselves to look like her. Nevertheless, she has been framed as a unique icon in the pro-ana sphere, despite her personal intent, due to the extreme nature of her body. She helps members to express mental illness and severe emotional distress via an emaciated frame and grungy-but-cool aesthetic. She therefore gives people a way to explore sickness and femininity concurrently, which is especially relevant for young women with eating disorders. The pro-ana community has adopted her as a cult icon for these reasons. Here, I analyse this process using Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge’s sociological scholarship on the social role of religion broadly and “cult formation” more specifically. This raises important questions about consent in cult formation and the role required of a leader.

'You Are Not Alone, We've Got You': Power Plays, Devotion, and Punishment on Healthy Eating and Pro-Eating Disorder Websites.

Healthy eating (HE) and pro-eating disorder (pro-ED) websites are popular sources of dietary and weight loss information, social support, and lifestyle inspiration. However, the discursive styles and language used by authors/moderators and users of these two site genres have not been widely studied or compared. Forty-three HE websites and twenty-four pro-ED websites were analysed using Fairclough's model of critical discourse analysis. Findings indicate that sites share common characteristics in terms of power relations played out by authors, 'successful' dieters, and those attending these sites. These power plays encourage moral and spiritual commitment to the care of one's body, with authoritative language used to support readers' loyalty and adherence to dietary plans. On HE sites, medicinal properties were attributed to 'clean' or 'pure' foods, whereas pro-ED sites conveyed their importance for weight reduction. Healthy eating sites were largely entrepreneurial, promoting products or themselves. Pro-eating disorder sites typically featured discussions of bodily disgust, the chastisement of others, and self-discipline in the name of 'Ana', such that dieting came to be framed as part of a devotional, often punitive, body project. On both sites, morality discourses were gendered around the thin female body and the 'ideal mother', with occasional praise for muscular male bodies. Our findings indicate how transitioning from healthy eating preoccupations to eating disorders may be facilitated by normalising discussions about restrictive dieting and the shaming of bodies, overseen by self-appointed diet 'experts' and 'buddies' online.

Debate: Social media content moderation may do more harm than good for youth mental health.

Most social media platforms censor and moderate content related to mental illness to protect users from harm, though this may be at the expense of potential positive outcomes for youth mental health. Current evidence does not offer strong support for the relationship between censoring mental health content and preventing harm. In fact, existing moderation strategies can perpetuate negative consequences for mental health by creating isolated and polarized communities where at-risk youth remain exposed to harmful content, such as pro-eating disorder communities that use lexical variants to evade censorship. Social media censorship of content related to mental illness can also silence positive discourse about mental health, create barriers to accessing online support and resources, and hinder research efforts on youth well-being. Social media content about mental health can have important positive impacts on youth mental health by facilitating help-seeking, depicting positive coping strategies, and promoting a sense of belonging for struggling youth, but these benefits are minimized under existing moderation and censorship practices. This article presents a call to action for evidence-based social media policies and for practitioners to consider the clinical implications of social media engagement when connecting with young patients.

Aporia and Its Narrative Structure in the Novel The Unnamable by Samuel Beckett

The article deals with the scientific framework of the less widespread stylistic device aporia, focusing on its definition, peculiarities, function and effect caused by it. Aporia as a stylistic-phonetic device has gained a great power and a new mode of expression in the timeless example of 20th century prose – by Samuel Becket. The Unnamable is a stream-of-consciousness novel, but not like Joyce’s Ulysses, where the sights, sounds, smells and human bustle of Dublin are evoked for us, in vivid specificity, through the sense- impressions, thoughts and memories of the chief characters. All we have is a narrative voice talking to itself, or transcribing its own thoughts as they occur, longing for extinction and silence, but condemned to go on narrating, though it has no story worth telling, and is certain of nothing, not even of its own position in space and time. Beckett was a deconstructionist avant la letttre. “ I seem to speak, it is not I, about me, it is not about me ”Aporia is a favorite trope of deconstructionist critics, because it epitomizes the way in which all texts undermine their own claims to a determinate meaning; but the narrator’s later admission, “that I say aporia without knowing what it means”, is a trumping of aporia. What is extraordinary is that this bleakly pessimistic and skeptical text is not deeply depressing to read, but on the contrary funny, affecting, and in a surprising way affirmative of the survival of the human spirit in extremis. Its famous last words are: “you must go on, I can’t go on, I’ll go on”

A Study of Online Subcultural Groups' Emotional Climate under the Interaction Ritual Chains Theory

With the popularity of the internet, more and more social events and issues can be widely disseminated and discussed by people online. In a certain social background, a specific emotional climate will be naturally formed among internet users who share the same views or interests or cultural backgrounds, especially among online subcultural groups. Through the literature review, there is a large amount of research on online subcultural groups and research on emotional climate; however, there is very little study of online subcultural groups emotional climate. Therefore, this study will adopt the Interaction Ritual Chains theory to explore the online subcultural groups emotional climate. The research question is how the online subcultural groups emotional climate is generated. By taking online subcultural groups in two types of websites - the Bilibili website and pro-anorexia websites- as cases, the process of generating the online subcultural groups emotional climate can be summarised. This paper finds that multiple and multi-level emotion sharing triggered by a specific event among group members is the process of forming interaction ritual chains, and the reason why members emotion sharing triggered by a specific event enables the group to generate an emotional climate is that the emotional energy and symbols produced by the interaction ritual created in emotion sharing are successfully shared by the group members, which can influence the emotional energy of groups that on a social dimension can be seen as emotional climate.

How Experts Advise Evaluating Pro Se Competence 15 Years Post-Edwards.

The challenge of achieving an acceptable balance between respecting the autonomy of criminal defendants by allowing them to self-represent, and protecting the integrity of the judicial process by limiting this right when mental illness impedes such efforts, has been longstanding. Although courts have long tended to allow self-representation, a recognized ability of states to limit such rights was articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Indiana v. Edwards (2008). Because Edwards outlined no specific test for representational competence, numerous scholars have proposed criteria over the last 15 years, with variable frameworks and points of emphasis. We synthesized the published literature since Edwards on the evaluation of pro se competence. A search of electronic databases was conducted using relevant search terms, yielding 31 identified articles after review of titles, abstracts, full-text articles, and reference lists. Overall, in evaluating pro se competence, experts advise assessing whether a defendant can demonstrate the cognitive, communicative, and emotional abilities to conduct an adequate defense, engage in constructive social intercourse, provide a rational reason for pursuing self-representation, and willingly work with standby counsel. Using these factors, we propose a representational competence standard that balances defendant autonomy with court paternalism. Implications for future research are discussed.

Screening for Media Use in the Emergency Department Among Young Australians: Cross-sectional Study.

Research on problematic internet use has largely adhered to addiction paradigms, possibly impeding the identification of specific internet behaviors related to psychopathology. This study presents a novel approach to screening for specific problematic internet behaviors by using a new measure, the emergency department media use screener (EDMUS). The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of internet use in young people presenting with mental health concerns to the emergency department (ED), ascertain associations with their mental health, and evaluate whether the EDMUS can be used to predict subsequent ED presentations within 3 months. This cross-sectional retrospective study of Australian young people (N=149, aged 11-25 years; female: n=92, 61.7%) sought to use the EDMUS, a 24-item questionnaire, to identify problematic internet behaviors, including accessing or posting prosuicidal or proeating disorder content, cyberbullying, and inappropriate digital content. Data on each person's mental health were extracted from electronic medical records to look for associations with EDMUS responses and ED re-presentation over 3 months. EDMUS items were grouped into clusters for analysis using chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and path analyses. Sharing suicidal digital content was the most common problematic internet use pattern identified by the EDMUS. However, this did not correlate with having a prior mental health diagnosis or predict readmission. Most participants had families with a concern for their internet use; however, this was less likely in participants with a diagnosis of personality disorder. Diagnoses of personality disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder were independent predictors of readmission (P=.003; P=.048). Although a history of complex psychopathology increases the likelihood of subsequent ED presentations, its links to internet use-related behaviors are still unclear. The EDMUS has potential for identifying young people who are most vulnerable to problematic internet behaviors and offers the opportunity for early intervention and potential prevention of more entrenched difficulties.

Competing for perfection: A scoping review evaluating relationships between competitiveness and eating disorders or disordered eating behaviours.

Eating disorders (EDs) impact multiple domains in a person's life including interpersonal interactions. Although a considerable amount of literature has evaluated social comparison and ED pathology, less has focussed on the influence of competitiveness on eating behaviours within ED and community samples. To address this, a systematic scoping review was conducted to evaluate current knowledge on this topic. PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews were utilised to identify relevant articles in three databases without limits to date or publication type. A total of 2952 articles were identified. After removing duplicates and books, 1782 articles were evaluated against inclusion criteria, and 91 articles were included. Results were synthesised under six differing conceptualisations of competitiveness: competition in pro-eating disorder communities (n=28), general personality competitiveness (n=20), sexual competition hypothesis (n=18), interpersonal competitiveness with peers (n=17), familial competitiveness (n=8) and competitiveness to avoid inferiority (n=5). Varying conceptualisations of competitiveness were identified within the ED literature, and preliminary evidence suggests competitiveness may be associated with ED pathology in ED and community samples, although results were not uniform. Future research is needed to clarify these relationships and to identify possible clinical implications.

The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people.

Eating disorders are a group of heterogenous, disabling and deadly psychiatric illnesses with a plethora of associated health consequences. Exploratory research suggests that social media usage may be triggering body image concerns and heightening eating disorder pathology amongst young people, but the topic is under-researched as a global public health issue. To systematically map out and critically review the existing global literature on the relationship between social media usage, body image and eating disorders in young people aged 10-24 years. A systematic search of MEDLINE, PyscINFO and Web of Science for research on social media use and body image concerns / disordered eating outcomes published between January 2016 and July 2021. Results on exposures (social media usage), outcomes (body image, eating disorders, disordered eating), mediators and moderators were synthesised using an integrated theoretical framework of the influence of internet use on body image concerns and eating pathology. Evidence from 50 studies in 17 countries indicates that social media usage leads to body image concerns, eating disorders/disordered eating and poor mental health via the mediating pathways of social comparison, thin / fit ideal internalisation, and self-objectification. Specific exposures (social media trends, pro-eating disorder content, appearance focused platforms and investment in photos) and moderators (high BMI, female gender, and pre-existing body image concerns) strengthen the relationship, while other moderators (high social media literacy and body appreciation) are protective, hinting at a 'self-perpetuating cycle of risk'. Social media usage is a plausible risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Research from Asia suggests that the association is not unique to traditionally western cultures. Based on scale of social media usage amongst young people, this issue is worthy of attention as an emerging global public health issue.

An Imperfect Solution: The Due Process Case for Providing Court-Appointed Interpreters for Pro Se Plaintiffs

A federal law, the Court Interpreters Act, provides litigants with complimentary access to a qualified or professionally certified interpreter in actions instituted by the United States. The majority of pro se civil litigation in federal courts is initiated by the United States, and thus, those pro se litigants who speak little-to-no English need not pay for access to an exceptional interpreter. Indeed, federal courts offer interpreters proficient in a multitude of languages, and the courts work hard to ensure adequate interpretation in proceedings brought by the United States.
 However, those limited-English-proficient pro se plaintiffs initiating their own lawsuits face a steep climb to vindicate their private rights against nongovernmental defendants. Beyond the inherent challenges associated with filing and proceeding absent legal counsel, these litigants further proceed absent the language skills necessary to understand the meaning and effect of a court’s hearings. The Court Interpreters Act effectively ignores this class of litigants. While federal district judges have the power to appoint interpreters for civil litigants on a discretionary basis, district judges do not always exercise this power. Anything short of a mandate to provide interpretation services to the small group of non-English-speaking pro se plaintiffs overlooked by the Court Interpreters Act risks continued denial of their right of meaningful access to the courts.
 In this Comment, I argue that under both common sense and the procedural due process Mathews factors, language access is a material component of a litigant’s right to be heard. Our judicial system works hard to accommodate pro se litigants while also denying those pro se litigants who lack adequate English skills access to an interpreter. To remedy this flagrant unfairness, I propose that the Administrative Office of the United States Court should amend its Policy Guidance so that pro se plaintiffs pleading a colorable cause of action receive interpretation services as needed.

Why Can't I Have a Robot Lawyer? Limits on the Right to Appear Pro Se

Why Can't I Have a Robot Lawyer? Limits on the Right to Appear Pro Se

Asynchronous Edward: Comparing Online Responses to Gender in Christopher Marlowe's <i>Edward II</i> and Elizabeth Cary's The History of the Most Unfortunate Prince Edward II

This essay examines how students in an online undergraduate English literature survey course (in 2023) reacted to and wrote responses in forum posts to a comparative reading of Christopher Marlowe’s sixteenth century play Edward II and Elizabeth Cary’s seventeenth century prose account of the same monarch.

Using ODR Platforms to Level the Playing Field: Improving Pro Se Litigation through ODR Design

Using ODR Platforms to Level the Playing Field: Improving Pro Se Litigation through ODR Design

Litigating Innocence: Why Systemic Reforms Are Needed to Exonerate Innocent, Pro Se Individuals

Litigating Innocence: Why Systemic Reforms Are Needed to Exonerate Innocent, Pro Se Individuals

Women, Intertextuality, Mobility: Mapping Transcultural Networks in the Fifteenth Century Prose Epic 'Herzog Herpin'

Considering the example of the fifteenth-century prose epic Herzog Herpin, attributed to Elisabeth of Nassau-Saarbrücken, through the lens of Caroline Levine's approach to networks, this essay examines the constitutive role of women in intra- and extra-textual constellations. Herzog Herpin is structured by networks colliding and interacting with each other. The family whose story it follows, the Mediterranean space that condition the movement of family members, and the network of intertextual references to Arthurian and Carolingian materials offer particularly productive examples of forms in which women act as connective agents. In turn, Herzog Herpin's composition is conditioned by the context in which Elisabeth evolves – a dynastic network in which women foster links between courts. Using a network approach to connect the intra- and extra-textual without implying causality, sheds light on a pattern of gender-specific involvement in literature relying on movement and connectivity.

Users’ perceptions of how an unmoderated eating disorder community may benefit or harm their recovery

BackgroundWhile the negative and positive outcomes of pro-eating disorder groups have been well-documented, more research is needed on the effects of pro-recovery communities. In particular, a gap in knowledge remains surrounding users’ feelings about their experiences in such communities. Using open-ended questions, we surveyed those involved in the recovery community on the social media site Tumblr, to determine how the community helped/did not help with recovery, and how it made them feel about recovery.MethodsParticipants (n = 29) answered a series of Likert and open-ended questions. The open-ended questions were examined using thematic analysis to learn about users’ lived experiences.ResultsThemes identified included connection/acceptance, motivation/encouragement, content, and competition/comparisons. Participants overall felt that the community helped them feel connected to others and accepted for their struggles and their successes, though a minority did note that such acceptance could sometimes reinforce negative behaviors, and connection could lead to pressure to help others. Participants found both direct advice and indirect support (e.g., encouraging posts) to be motivating for their recovery. Feelings of competition and comparison were mixed; some felt that comparing to others made them feel less than, while others used such comparisons as reminders to stay strong in recovery. Participants indicated that the content within the community varies; sometimes there is a large presence of pro eating disorder posts, while at other times, posts are more positive, motivational, and encouraging.ConclusionsParticipants overall indicated that the community had many helpful aspects and made them feel better about recovery. However, the presence of triggering content and competition in particular were notable drawbacks of the community. Overall, recovery communities on unmoderated sites or social media applications may be useful tools during the recovery process, despite some important limitations.

Exploring the Experiences of People who Engage with Pro-eating Disorder Online Media: A Qualitative Inquiry.

The harmful consequences of eating disorders can impact an individual’s physical, emotional, and psychosocial wellness. However, these consequences may be exacerbated by the use of pro-eating disorder online media. In this study, we used a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative inquiry to explore the experiences of an international sample of adults engaging with pro-eating disorder online media. Analysis revealed themes and subthemes and provided context for meaning(s) individuals experience when engaging in pro-eating disorder media. Implications for counsellors across the globe are discussed.

The body image “problem” on social media: Novel directions for the field

Social media is a highly popular and interactive environment which has many benefits, but research has shown that its use is also associated with body image concerns. Leaked internal survey findings in September 2021 from Instagram provide some support for negative impacts on body image of teenage girls especially. In this short communication, we discuss the complexities of moderating social media platforms which aim to protect users from potentially harmful body image focused content. Several strategies have been employed and we specifically examine the moderation of pro-eating disorder hashtags (e.g., #thinspiration) and hiding of “Like” counts on Instagram in particular. We find that both are quick technical “fixes” that do not effectively address these long-standing and complex issues on social media. We provide suggestions for novel avenues of research, including that body image researchers are excellently positioned to propose specific suggestions for content moderation strategies that may actually be effective. Social media companies know that they have a major problem on their hands, as the leaked findings demonstrate, and so they may be more receptive than they have ever been to novel research findings from our community.

Pro Se Precedent in the U.S. Tax Court: A Case for Amicus Briefs

Pro Se Precedent in the U.S. Tax Court: A Case for Amicus Briefs